America East announces men's basketball preseason poll
9/28/2026 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Orono, Maine -- The America East announced the men's basketball preseason poll for the 2026-27 season on Monday morning.
The Black Bears, who were picked eighth in the poll, are looking to bounce back after a down year last season where they dealt with some key injuries coming off of their America East Championship Game appearance in the 2024-25 season. Despite the injury issues, the Black Bears continued their streak of being inside the top-100 in team defense every year of the Chris Markwood Era as they ranked 42nd in the country, allowing just 68.4 PPG. The Black Bears were inside the top-100 in turnovers forced per game and ranked sixth in the NCAA in 3pt defense (29.6%).
Maine is looking forward to the return of both Killian Gribben and Darius Lopes, who combined to only see three minutes of action last season after both suffering season-ending lower body injuries. Gribben was a key piece of the 2024-25 squad that won 20 games as he averaged 5.3 PPG and over one block a game.
From least season, the Black Bears are looking for Caleb Crawford and Ace Flagg to continue being solid contributors each night as they combined for 11.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 79 steals last season. Flagg earned a spot on the America East All-Rookie Team for his performances last season while Crawford scored a career-high 21 points against Vermont in February.
Maine has added seven new student-athletes to the program during the off-season. Villiam Gracia Adsten (Drexel), DeAndre Williams (Holy Cross), Ayden Evans (Ohio), Oliver Faubert (Saint Mary's) and Wyatt Triestman (Eckerd College)Â were the transfers that joined the program while Wesley Waddles and Hudson Franz are first-year players for the Black Bears.
The Black Bears are set to begin the 2026-27 season on Monday, Nov. 2 against Providence College. The Black Bears will host Husson in an open exhibition on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 4:30 PM at Skip Chappelle Court.
Some season tickets are still available for the 2026-27 season and single game tickets are set to go on sale on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 9:30 AM. Call the ticket office at 207-581-BEAR or visit online by clicking here.
2026-27 Preseason Poll (1st place votes)
1. Vermont 62 (7)
2. UMBC 46 (1)
3. Binghamton 45 (1)
4. NJIT 38
5. Bryant 36
6. UAlbany 34
7. UMass Lowell 31
8. Maine 19
9. New Hampshire 13
-UMaine-
Developing Champions with Integrity
Integrity | Accountability | Toughness | Excellence
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The Black Bears, who were picked eighth in the poll, are looking to bounce back after a down year last season where they dealt with some key injuries coming off of their America East Championship Game appearance in the 2024-25 season. Despite the injury issues, the Black Bears continued their streak of being inside the top-100 in team defense every year of the Chris Markwood Era as they ranked 42nd in the country, allowing just 68.4 PPG. The Black Bears were inside the top-100 in turnovers forced per game and ranked sixth in the NCAA in 3pt defense (29.6%).
Maine is looking forward to the return of both Killian Gribben and Darius Lopes, who combined to only see three minutes of action last season after both suffering season-ending lower body injuries. Gribben was a key piece of the 2024-25 squad that won 20 games as he averaged 5.3 PPG and over one block a game.
From least season, the Black Bears are looking for Caleb Crawford and Ace Flagg to continue being solid contributors each night as they combined for 11.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 79 steals last season. Flagg earned a spot on the America East All-Rookie Team for his performances last season while Crawford scored a career-high 21 points against Vermont in February.
Maine has added seven new student-athletes to the program during the off-season. Villiam Gracia Adsten (Drexel), DeAndre Williams (Holy Cross), Ayden Evans (Ohio), Oliver Faubert (Saint Mary's) and Wyatt Triestman (Eckerd College)Â were the transfers that joined the program while Wesley Waddles and Hudson Franz are first-year players for the Black Bears.
The Black Bears are set to begin the 2026-27 season on Monday, Nov. 2 against Providence College. The Black Bears will host Husson in an open exhibition on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 4:30 PM at Skip Chappelle Court.
Some season tickets are still available for the 2026-27 season and single game tickets are set to go on sale on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 9:30 AM. Call the ticket office at 207-581-BEAR or visit online by clicking here.
2026-27 Preseason Poll (1st place votes)
1. Vermont 62 (7)
2. UMBC 46 (1)
3. Binghamton 45 (1)
4. NJIT 38
5. Bryant 36
6. UAlbany 34
7. UMass Lowell 31
8. Maine 19
9. New Hampshire 13
-UMaine-
Developing Champions with Integrity
Integrity | Accountability | Toughness | Excellence
Â
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